France’s protest policing remains shaped by a centralized state and history

Ekonominin Sesi - International (English) · Oct 20, 2026 · 1m

According to the article, France’s approach to managing protests is influenced by a highly centralized state and a security culture that views demonstrations as challenges to state authority. Tactics can include surrounding crowds, baton charges, and the use of so-called less-than-lethal weapons. Pyrotechnic stun grenades, designed to disperse crowds through impact and a powerful acoustic shock, have caused serious injuries, including lost eyes and teeth, fractured jaws, and amputated limbs. The article notes that although France does not always have Western Europe’s highest number of…